Family 4th at Lake Union

The list of prior sponsors for the annual Independence Day fireworks extravaganza reads like a history of the banking industry meltdown. In 2008, it was WaMu. In 2009, JP Morgan Chase, which bought the bankrupt thrift. But when Chase closed its wallet, the people of Seattle took matters into their own hands. Led by celebrity chef Tom Douglas and KIRO radio host Dave Ross, $500,000 was raised in less than 24 hours to save the Family 4th at Lake Union. What could be more populist than that? Well, how about hot dogs, booze, and rocking-chair races? The celebration also features an array of food booths, lakeside beer garden, and a playfield full of family activities (cakewalks, dunk tank, inflatable sumo wrestling, etc.). But remember to set down your blanket early, well before dusk, for a prime viewing perch for the fireworks show (at 10 p.m.). Minimalist pop-rockers The Presidents of the United States of America will play before and after the display; Seattle jazz queen Greta Matassa will sing the national anthem. Parking will be extremely limited, so eventgoers are encouraged to bike, walk, or bus. REBECCA COHEN